Machine for expanding metal laths



F. c. AREY. MACHINE' Foa v511111.10111@ METAL LMHS. APPLI-CATION FILE!) MAY 14, 1915.

'Patented oet. 11,1919.

, 5 suena-'sniff 2.

F. C. AREY.

- MACHINE FOR EXPAND'ING METAI'L-ATHS.

APPLICATION FILED MAV14II9I5.

- Patented 001. 14,1919.

5 IIEETs-sIIEEr a.,

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I l I I I I I I I I I I I I I I F. C. AREY.. MACHINE FOR EXPANDING METALLATHS.

5 SHEETS- SHEET 4. v

APPLICATION FILED 1v1/w14. 1915:

' V Jag?.

s L# a Y i LC. AREY. M'ACHINE FOR EXPANDLNG METAL L X APPLICATION FILED, MAY 14. LSHV l' Patented v065.14, 1919. 5 SHEETS-SHEET` 5. /a /6' m5 @ya To all whom, vit may Vconcern -g UNITEDpsTA-Tns -PATEN-Ti OFEICE# ranno. anni?, or OAK Penn,

ILLINOIS, As's'lenon iro nnennenns TURNER, or Grimace, ILLINOIS. f

'mecum-aren EXPANDING METAL LA'rII's.

4Be it known that I, FRED C. Anni', al citizen'fof theUnited States, residingat Oak Park, county; of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Im rove ment in Machines for Expandingetal Laths, and decl-are the following .to be a full, clear,V 'and' exact description of the same, such 4as will ,enable othersv skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and -use the same, reference being had. to the accompany'ngidrawings, which -form a part'.

` of this specification.

The present invention relates to metal" working machinery, and particularly to a machine for expanding a 'previously slitted sheet to transformit into what is known as expanded metal, and v.has for its object to produce a simple and eflicient machine for expanding a strip or sheet the" entire jarea of which has not been slitted but which contains unslitted areas.

. Viewed in another ofits' aspects my invention may be said, to'have for its object to produce a simple and novel machine for transforming a flat strip ofmetal having l a central slitted panel into a channel shaped lath unit having the body portion formed out of open mesh and the lianges or sides -of unslitted metal whereby, when a plural-ity vof similar units'arelaid side side wit their flanges touching, va sheet of `metal-expanded throughout and provided with unexpanded stilfening ribs is obtained.

In carrying out my invention thel strip vvis expanded by applying pulling forcesA at ,p opposite' edges, acting in the' plane of the.

portion to be expanded and, since the strands inthe expanded metal are bent out of this plane or rather are bent so as to lie atan angle to this plane and it is desirable that all of the strands beinclined in the same general direction, myY invention may be said to have for one of its objects to` produce a simple and novel device for insuring that the strands will always be inclined in the proper direction.

The various features of novelty' whereby A.mv invention is 'characterized will herein after` be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of my invention andof its objects and Aadvantages,referencemay be .had to the followv ing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Application led May. 14,

arranged Speciication of Letters-Patent. r Pjented Oct, 14,1919.'

1915. seriai'No. 28,015.. `v

Figure l is atop plan View of that portion of a complete metal lath'forming machine vention';

-Fig. 21s apsection'on an enlargedscale taken approximately on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

in accordance with the present `iny F ig.` 3 is asection on a still larger scale.

'takenl approximately on line 8 3 -of Fig. 1';

F ig.. 4: 1s a section taken approximately onl line-4-4fof-Fig. 1;

to the plane ofv Fig. 4 just above the bedY 'through' 'the shafts of two. ofthe iianging rolls by v.which the flanges of the expanded channels are in turn flanged;

Fig. '5 is a' section taken at right angles j Fig. 6 is a section on an enlarged'scale 'approximately on line 6 6 of Fig.. 4, only" omitted.

My invention is particularly adapted for forming channel shaped expanded metal lath units from comparatively narrow strips each having a slitted panel extending down the center, such'I as lare formed in my ma` chine for slitting sheetmetal strips disclosed and claimedinrmy prior application 21,198;

the. detailed description to thisparticular formvof v,machine and product although it will of course be understood that my -inven tion is not "limited to thisone field.` The soI and, for the sake of brevity, I shall confine mechanisms of which the machine is con'- stituted may be divided into four groups, the first of which bendstheI flat strip into a channel .member wherein the unslitted por.

tion is confined between the sides or flanges; second, mechanism for expanding the'chan' nels so as to make them wider and 'at the same timetransform the slitted portions into an open me'shg.third,mechanism for fianging the sides or flanges of the channels; and fourth, mechanism for straightening the sides of the channels. f

i The'first of these groups of mechanisms lot is shown as comprising four sets of complementary rolls, l, 2, 3 and i, mounted on a suitable stationary part, 5, which forms the base for the whole machine, and driven in any suitable Way from a main driving shaft, 6; the rolls 1 being simply .plain feed rolls while one member of each of the sets 2, 3 and 4f is spool shaped, thel angle between the inner sides of the flanges and the body portion of the spools decreasing throughout the series` until this angle is ninety vdegrees in the spool shaped member of the rolls 1i. The resultI is that when a strip is fed through the series of rolls, it is bent into the form of a channel whose sides Vare at right angles with the connecting member. The parts are of course so proportioned that the width of the channel-shaped memberinto which the strip isformed is just equal to tl1e.,width of the slitted panel extending down through the center; the work having in cross section the appearance shown in Figs. 7 and S just after it passes through the last set of rolls, the sides, 7, being formed of unslitted metal while the connecting piece, 8, is slitted throughout its entire area.

As the work leaves the rolls it passes forward in an inverted position, with the free edges ofits flanges lying ay short distance above a horizontal bed, 9. @n this bed, just in the rear ofthe rolls 4, are three guiding members including a central block, l0, and side blocks or members, 1l and l2. The height of the blocks or guides is somewhat greater than the width of the flanges of the work. The member l0, at t-he end nearest the rolls is just wide enough to tit between the flanges of the work, the extreme end being of course tapered to permit it readily to enter the work. The blocks l1 and l2 are spaced apart from the block 10 a distance equal to the thickness of the metal of which the work is made. The block l0 increases gradually in 1Width, the increase being, however, wholly on one side; the members l'l and l2 being of course shaped 'so as to maintain at ally points the passages 'for receiving thev flanges of the work. The re- `sul't is that as the work is fed forward it is slipped over and rests upon the central guide block and, since the block gradually becomes wider than the width of the unexpanded channel, the latter is caused to expand, transforming thefhorizontal slitted portion into an open mesh as indicated at 13 in Fig.t 7. In expanding, the natural tendency is for the flanges of the expanded portion to place themselves at an angle to the flanges of the unexpanded portion and the straight side ofthe central block is therefore curved inwardly at the wider end so as to permit the adjacent flange to leave tangentially and avoid producing a sharp corner. This may be Aesplained in another way.

V,When a sheet, slitted along slightly diagonal lines, as shown in Fig. 7, is expanded, there occurs a relative longitudinal movement between the opposite long edges that is, between the downturned flanges in the present instance. After the expansion has been completed, the two edges continue through the machine in the same direction and at the same speed. By causing -the gradually-widening expanding block curve or bend laterally as a Whole, the proper ratio is maintained between the distances through which the two flanged edges of the work must travel during the eXpanding operation; so that one flanged edge simply travels faster than 'the other While moving along the block. Then, when the eX- pansion is complete-and the tWo flanged edges are required to travel along at the same speed, they leave the expanding block in a tangential direction to each of the curved sides and therefore are permitted t o\ follow a natural course without being forced or distorted.

In order lto hold the Work upon the guides and keep it from lifting up, I have placed on top of the members ll and l2 two ledges, 14 and l5, which. overhang the central block and engage with the upper surface of the work.

With the construction 'heretofore described, the strands of the expanded metal lie at an angle to the normal'plane of the sheet out of which they are formed and, 'in order to produce a commercial product it is necessary that this inclination be in the same direction throughout the length of the strip. However, since the expanding forces are mere pulls in opposite directions in the plane'of the slitted portion of the work, it sometimes happens that the strands will be inclined in one direction in. one portion of the strip and in the reverse direction in another portion. In order to prevent this reversal of the strands, I have provided means for positively controlling the direction in which the strands are inclined, insuring that all of the strands will be inclined in the same direction throughout an entire strip or series of strips. The means for controlling the direction of inclination of the strands is based on the theory that the direction ofin' clination depends upon the angle Awhich the expanding forces make with the normal plane .of the slitted sheet. llVhere these forces are in the plane of the sheet it is just .a matter of chance as to which direction the strands will take; but, by causing these forces to be applied at a definite angle to this plane, the direction of inclination of the strands will be positively determined. Since the actual direction of the expanding forces is at right angles to the flanges ofthe work` I'obtain the angle between these forces and the plane of the slitted strip by displacing the strip itself so as to make an yangle iso withv its normal plane.v lThisl can conveniently be accomplished by hollowing out the top of the-central block 10'and l placing above the recess thus formed ,a shoe which will-press the slitted material downwardly before the actual expansion begins. VIn the arrangement shown, the'top ofthe block 10 is cut away at the top except that ledges, 16, 17, are' left for the ypurpose of leaving the block at its. full height at'the sides; lthese ledges being preferably shaped so as to vbe very narrow atthe top. Lying above the member 10 in proximity to the straight side thereof is a stationary shoe, 18, approximately triangular in cross section, one ofthe sides being the horizontal upper side,` .anotherof the sides being a vertical' side ex` tending down into rthe recessed top of the block to -a point which leaves just suflicient clearance between the shoe and the ledge 17 to permit the slitted metal to pass between them, while the third side is one which is inpermitting the work topass readily beneath the shoe so that theslitted "ortion will be gradually bent downwardly fp om both edges until, when the actual process of expansion due -to the. widening of the block 10 begins, there has'been a partial expansion due to thepressing Of'the slitted member8 from the condition illustrated inFig. 8 to that illustrated in Fig. 9. With the work in the condition illustrated in Fig. 9, the expanding. forces resulting from the pressing apart `of the flanges of the work as they pass upon the wider portions of the block 10 areat rdefinite angles to the planes 0f the deflected slitted material and consequently the inclination ,of the strands is positively determined.

rllhe placing of the shoe in the manner illustrated secures an additional result. It is evident that theseries'of strands next to one flange or the other must have a twist in it if the other be straight, that is if the strands of one ofthese series take the same form or shape as the strands through the body portion of the expandedmetal, the

`strands of the other series must be twisted.

By placing the shoe close toone of the ledges and making the upper edge of this ledge narrow and practically sharp, a sharp bend is produced just 'at the juncture between the slitted portion and one of the unslitted flanges, and 'the parts which constitute -sition to grasp one of the flanges of the'work intothe structural scheme' without lbending the upper edge ofjthemetal zforming the un-v s'litted flange. The-result isfthat afterfthe expansion is completed', each 'fiange shows in plan a. clean e'dge.

Just beyond theexpandingiv 'mechanism' are two sets -of rotary feedingheads, 20 and I 21, revolving about vertical axes' just above the work-receiving bed, each set being 1n poas it leaves the expanding mechanism. y j

It sometimes happens that themetal does not receive a suiiicient "set inY passing through the expanding mechanism, so4 that after it is finished the work is narrower than was intended. In order to compensate for A variation inthe character of material I have provided a shoe, 22, Vcontaining a slot, 23,' in position to receive one of :the flanges ofthe work as-it leaves the feedingv heads 20. The member 22 is provided with suitable adjust"-` ing means, 24, which,l in the arrangement shown, consists of a bolt passing through aY stationary part and nuts on the bolt'to lock the shoe in adjusted position. If it is found that the work has a tendency to contract in the transverse direction, the shoe 22' l is simply adjusted -outwardly a slight distance so that it will exert an outward pull on the flange passing through the same and stretch the work transversely to a desired width.

After leaving the expanding mechanism,

including the shoe 22, the anges of the work pass between two sets of rotary flang-- ing heads, 25 and 26,' which simply actto bend the lower edges of the flanges of the workinwardly parallel with the lplane of the expanded portion. With this arrangement, when two completed lath units are laid side by side the two contacting flanges form a Tl beam. The construction of these Hanging heads is clearly shown in Fig. 2. Each set' consists of two rotary disk-like members, 27 and 28, the member 27 having the lower half reduced in diameter and the member 28 vhaving a 'flange or apron, 29, at the bottom which projects into proximity to the reduced portion of the member 27.

After passing through the fianging de. vices 25 and 26, the work enters a mechanism similar to a wire straightener which straightens the flanges so that when the work leaves the machine its lines are straight and true. This mechanism, in` the form illustrated, consists vof four rotary heads, 30, mounted to revolve about stationary axes, two of the heads being in position to engage with one of the flanges of the work after passing' through the Hanging heads 25, and the other two 'being in a positionA to engage other rotary heads, 31, arranged in the same relation to each other as that which the heads 30 bear with respect to each other are so disposed that they may be moved transversely 'of the path of travel of the work, the arrangement being such that each flange of the work passes between two of the heads 30 and two of the heads 31, so that by adjusting the heads '31, any desired effect on the flanges of the work may be produced.

It is desirable that the feeding heads of each pair be adjusted from and toward each other, this being' also true of the flanging heads, as the thickness of the material from which the laths are made varies and, in the case' of the feeding heads, it is desirable that the heads be pressed toward each other yieldingly so that they will always automatically adjustthemselves and take a firm grip on the work'. This may conveniently be accomplished by mounting one of the shafts of each set of heads in such a way that it may be adjusted from and toward the other shaft. This is shown most completely, perhaps, in Fig. 5 of the drawing. One of the shafts for the'set of flanging heads 25 is arranged in a stationary bearing, this shaft being indicated at 33, while the other shaft 34, extends eccentrically-through a cylindrical bushing, 35, revolubly supported in an opening, 36, in the work-receiving bed. The bushing has an arm, 37, projecting radially from one side thereof and to this arm is secured the inner end of a bolt, 38, which passes through a stationary plate, 39, and

has nuts, 40, arranged on opposite sides of the plate. Wlhen the nuts are screwed up against the plate 39, the supporting bushing for the shaft 34 is locked in place and the distance between the aXe-s of the shafts 33 and 34 is Xed. If the metal of which the laths are made varies in thickness, so as to require an adjustment of the llanging heads, this adjustment may be made by loosening the nuts 40 and swinging the bushing 35 around. The shaft for one of the heads of the `set 26 is supported in the same way as the shaft 34. the bolt, 41, corresponding to the bolt 38, being made longer because of the increased distance of the set of heads from the side of the machine. The

supporting shaft for one of the heads of each of the sets 20 and 21 is supported eccentrically in the bushing 35 as heretofore described, long bolts, 42, being employed instead of the bolt 38 and, instead of the nuts on opposite sides of, the stationary plate 39, there is no nut on the bolt on the inner side of the plate, while on the outer side there is a spring, 43, lying between the plate and a nut, 44, at the outer. end of the bolt. The parts are so proportioned that the springs, when free to do so, hold the feeding heads of each set together, so that no matter'what the thickness of the materiall is, the fianges of the work will be firmly gripped by these heads.

fill of the rotary4 heads heretofore described are driven in any suitable way from the main shaft so that the peripheral speed of all is the same and also the same as the speed at which the unexpanded channel is fed into the expanding mechanism by the rolls 1 to 4. A

Preferably there is beneath the work-receiving bed 9 a casing or housing, 45, closed at the top by this bed and forming an inclosed chambervfor housing the gears and for containing a bath of oil which will insure effective lubrication for the gears. The gearing is best shown in Fig. 6, wherein 46 represents a spiral gear carried by the driving shalt and meshing with a complementary gear,'47, on the shaft 33. rThe shaft 33 is geared to the shaft 34 and the shafts 51 and 52, 53 and 54, and 55 and 56 belonging to the heads 25, 21 and 20, respectively, are all geared together in a train which includes the shaft 34 and the shaft 33.. In the same way, the shafts for the heads 30 and 31 are geared in a train starting from the shaft 33.

The heads 31 are carriedA upon slides, 57 and 58, which may be adjusted transversely by means of screw devices, 59, or otherwise. rl'he shafts 60, 61, 62 and 63 on which the heads 30 are carried are driven by a direct train of gearing, 64,beginning at the shaft 33 while the shafts 65, 66, 67 and 68 on which the heads 31 are carried are driven by a gear train the irst two members of which are two large wheels, 70 and 71, carried by the shafts 61 and 67, respectively. rThe slight movement of theslides 57 and 58 required to make the necessary adjustments of the straightening devlces does not interfere with the driving connections of the shafts 65 to 68 as the gear wheel 71 rolls upon the gear wheel 70 and remains in operative relation thereto while the adjustments are being made. The shafts 65, 66, 68 and the necessary intermediate, shafts are only long enough to extend through the slides so as to support at their upper ends the rotary heads and at their lower ends the gear members, but the shaft 67 must project a considerable distance below the slide so as to carry the gear wheel 71 in a plane below the train beginning with the shaft 67. I have therefore provided a special bearing for the lower end of the shaftl 67 as best illustrated in Fig. 3. The lower end of the shaft 67 projects through a bearing in one end of an arm` 73, whose other end is secured to the under side of the slide 57. A shoe, 7 4, projects downwardly from the free endof the arm 73 into a groove or way,

75, in the top of a stationary part, 76, .of the unison with each other so as to cause themV to act in succession on apiece 'of work pass.

intensi l vices, the shoe 7i sliding along theguideor a channel, mechanism for engaging the side slits.

Way Without leaving the same.

While I have illustrated idescribed with particularity onlyv a single eferred form of my invention, I do 'not'dele to be limited to the exact structural details thus illust-rated and described; but 'intend' tov cover all forms and arrangementswhich come Within the lterms employed in the delinitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a machine'- of Athe character 'del scribed, mechanism for bending the edges of a fiat slitted strip laterally lto shape 1t into members of the channel to spread them apart and expand the channel, the'block being so shaped that its longitudinal center line isl curved and means for flangin'g' -the {free edges of thc side members of the channel.

2. In la machine -of the character described, mechanism for bending the edges of a slitted strip laterally to give the strip the shape of a channel, a wedge shaped block lying in the vicinity of said mechanism with its na'rrow end directed toward said mechanism, and means for drawing thel channel over said block` to expand the same and open the 3..Ina machine of the character described, mechanism.' for bending the side edges of a-slitted strip laterally togive the strip the shape' of a channel, a device in the vicinity of saidv mechanism containing curved diverging .grooves each adapted to receive one of the side members of the channel, and means for Idrawing the channel throughisai'd device to expand the same and open the slits.

4. In a machine of the characterdescribed, mechanism for bending a 'slitted stripinto a channel, mechanism:` for expandling the channel, mechanism for anglnglthe, free edgesof theside members ofthe c ari-1 nel, mechanism actingon the side members vof the 'expanded channelto make the chanvnel straight, andv means lfor driving said lmechanismsin 'unison with each` other so as to cause them to actin succession on a piece .-'o'f Worklpassing through the machine'.

y -5. In a machineA of the characternde'- scribed, mechanism for expanding a sheet` metal channel having the bottom member slittedf mechanism forj Hanging the free edges ofthe side members. of the channehv and means for. driving said mechanismsin ing through the machin.

6.4In a machine of v the character. de-,

channel having' the bottom member slitted,

a' jaw adjustable,transversely of the path of movement of the channel in the machine and being of a size to .receive oneof the side members of the channel, and mechanism for drawing a channel through the expanding means and through said jaw.

7. In 'a machine of the character described, vmechanism forexpanding a sheet metal channel having the bottom Amember slitte'd, mechanism for Hanging the free edges of the side members of the channel, mechanism for acting on theA anged. side members of the expanded channel to make the channel straight," and means for driving said mechanisms in unison-With each other so as to cause them to'act in succession on a `piece .0f Work passing through the machine..

I strip to be expanded over sai'dblock.

9. In a machine of the character de- 90 scribed, mechanism acting upon a stripof sheet metal having a slitted central panel extending throughout the length of the same to form it into a channel having the slitted portion for the bottom, and mechanisms for successively lexpanding lthe channel and ia-nging the side members' thereof.

l 10. yIn a; machine of the character de-` scribed, a series of sets .of horizontal. rolls for transforming a strip of sheet metal having a slitted panel extending` through 'the M center thereof into a channel having the bottom formed of .said panel, coperating feed heads rotatableabout vertical axes,. and

an expanding device arranged between saidv rolls/and said'feeding heads andl provided with diverging grooves curved in the same general direction for receivin the side mem-l bers .of the channel to e'xpan the channel as Vslitted panel'extending through the center thereof into a channel having the bottom formed of -said panel, an expander for receiving the channels from the rolls and stretching it fso as to open the slits in thev bottom, means for drawing the channel through said. expander, and means for ang- "120., ing' the sidel members of the expanded channeh n. l 'A 12. In a machine of the character de` y scribed, an expanding member inthe'formof a Wedge-shaped block having at one side .125 a straight edge and terminatingat one end of the block in a portion vcurved in thedi- -rection ofthe oppositeside, and 'having at the latter side an -edge` straight'atthe last mentioned end and cur-ved away from' the1 .1 -30 i l Leis-,aai

opposite side in the vicinity of the other end or' the block.

13. In a machine of the character described, mechanism for transforming a metal `strip having a slitted central panelinto a channel having the bottom formed out of the said panel in an expanded condition, and a series of rotary Yhea-ds arranged in staggered relation to each other on opposite sides of each of the flanges or sides of the channelleaving said mechanism for straightening l so'as to stait the opening oi the slits and dethe channel. y

14. In a machine or the 'character described, means for acting ,on the bottom of. "a channel-shaped strip4 having a slitted bottom so as to deect at least a portion thereof out of its normal plane to start the opening of the slits slightly and cause the strands i to be deiiected in the desired direction witlil5. In a machine of the character del scribed, means for progressively deliectmg the slitted bottom of a channel-shaped strip throughout at least a portion of its Width to start the opening of the slits and direct the strands in the direction in which 'they are to be laid Without producing` any'considerable expansion of the strip, and means for progressively acting on the side members ofthe strip in order to expand the same progressively after the preliminary opening ot' the slits. l

16. In I a machine of the character described, means for deilecting at least a portion of a`- slitted sheet out of its normal plane to start the opening of the vslitsand determine the direction in .which 'the strands are to lie Without producing any considerable expansion of the strip, and' means for thereafter exerting a pull in opposite directions Ain approximately the normal plane of the sheet to expand thesame and fully open the slits.-

17. Inv .a machineA of the v'character described, means fory progressively deliecting a slitted sheet out of its normal plane for at least a portion of its Width in order to startthe opening of the slits and determine .the direction in which the strands are to be laid and Without producing any considerable expansion of the sheet, and means for acting upon the sheet progressively as theslits are Y opened'an'd exerting a pull in opposite directions in approximately the normal plane of the sheet to expand the same and completely open the slits. Y

`18. In a. machine of the character described, means for deliecting a slitted sheet out of its normal plane for at least a portion its normal plane as the feeding proceeds,

termine vthedirection in .which the strands shall be laid. While only incidentally producing an expanding effect on the strip; and means for applying a transverse ull in opposite directions in approximate y the normal plane of the sheet,'afterthe opening oi the slits has been started, for the purpose of producing substantially the major portion of the expansion of the strip.

y 20. In a machine of the character described, means or feeding 'a slitted strip in the directionof its length, means acting on the strip as a step preliminary to the expansion thereof to bon7 it out of its normal plane so as to start theopeningl of the slits and determine the direction in which. the strands shall be laid While only incidentally producing an expanding eii'ect; and means for applying a transverse pull in opposite direc tions in approximately the normal plane of the strip to eiiect substantially the entire amount of the expansion to which the strip is to 'be subjected.

21. `In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a slitted'strip in the direction of its length, means -acting on the strip along a longitudinal line between the sides as a. step preliminary to the expansion thereof to pass the strip laterally and cause the portions on opposite sides or said -line to be inclined toward eachother so as to start the opening of the slits-and determine the direction in Which the strands shall be laid While only incidentally'producing a A slight expansion of the strip, and means for applying to the strip a transverse pull in opposite directions in'approximately the norf mal plane of the slitted strip to bring about While only incidentally producing a slight expansion of the sheet, and'means for exert-` ing pulls in opposite directions on thesheet in .approximately said plane for the purpose of producing substantially the entire amount of expansion to which the sheet is to be subjected. I

23. In a machine of the character deico los

lac'

45 as to expandinto a diamond mesh whenthe channel is expanded, a block increasing gradually in width from end to end, means for drawing the channel over the block with.

nemesi 24. In av machine of the character def scribed, means for applying at the sides 'of a slitted sheet pulls in-opposite directions and approximately in the normal plane of the sheet to open the slits and'expand the' same, and additional 'means acting on the sheetas astep preliminary to the expansion to start the opening of the slits and determine the direction in vwhich the strands shall be laid While producing an incidental slight expansion of the sheet.

panded channel to the width of thefex# panded channel, the-topof the vlblock being 25. In a machine for expanding a Channel-shaped slit having a slitted bottom, -a block increasing gradually from one end -to the other from a width equal -to the unexrecessed, means for drawing achannel. to be expanded over said block, and means for depressing the slitted portion .of the chan,- nel into the recess in the to of the block at the narrow end of the bloc 26. In a .machine for expanding a sheet metal channel having a slitted bottom, a block increasing in width from a width equal to that 'of the unexpanded channel to thatof the expanded channel, means for drawing the channel over the block, and means associated with the block for determining the angle' of inclination of the strands to the normal 27. 'In a machine for expanding a sheet metal channelhaving a bottom slitted so its anges in engagement with .the sides thereof, and additional means for positively determining the direction in which the strands will be inclined to the normal plane of the bottom ofa channel when the channel is expanded.

28.111' a machine for expanding 'asheet metal channel having a 'bottom slitted so as to 'expand into a diamond mesh whentlie channel is expanded, a block having at one end a width equal to the width of the `unexpanded channel and increasinggraduallyin width to that ofthe expanded channel,v

. lthe top of the block being cut away'along the middle-to provide a recess extending from the narrow end toward the wider end,

plane of the bottom member of the. channel.

d I 7 v means for drawing a channel to be expanded over saidblock with its anges engaging the sides of the block, and means ionleM fleeting the slitted bottom of the channeL into said recess. .Y 1-70 29. In a machine forv expanding"a"sheet"` metal channel having a bottom slittedA so as to expand 'into a. diamond mesh when the channel is expanded, a block having at one end a width equal to the widthA of the un-v T/ expanded channel and increasingl gradually in width to that of the expanded channel,-

the top of the block being cut away along the middle toprovide a recess extending from tlienarrow end toward the wider end, 8o

'means for drawing a channel to be expanded over said block with its flanges engaging the sides of the block, and a cam-shaped shoearranged above said block and having a portion extending down into said recess 85.

in proximity to the narrow `end-of the block.l

30. VIn a machine for expanding a sheet rmetal channel having a slitted bottom, a

block of the same width as-the channel at one end and increasing gradually in width. toward the other end, the top ofthe block "beiy ing cut away except at the edges so as to provide a recess bound at the 'sides by two' up'- wardly-projecting ledges, Vmeans for. drawing a vchannel to beA expanded over said block, and means for pressing the slitted bottom into said recess at the narrower-end of the block.

3l. In a machinefor expanding a'sheet metal channel having a slitted bottom, a block of the same Widthv as thechannel at one end and increasing gradually in width toward the other end, the top of the block being cut away except at the edgesso as to f provide a recessv bound at the sides by two i506 upwardly projecting ledges, means z vfor drawing a channel to be expanded over said block, anda shoe supported above the'block` in proximity to lone side thereof, said shoe vprojecting down into said .recess in Vprox- 11"0 -under side to permit the entrance oa channel to be expanded. f y

32. In a machine foiexpanding al sheet metal Achannel having va slittedl bottom, -a blockincreasing gradually in widthv from a width equal to that of the unexpanded chan-` I20` nel to that of -theexpanded channel', one'of.

. thesides of the blockbeing substantially' straight and terminating at the wide end of t'he block in 'an inwardly directed curve, Iand means for drawing a channel to .be eX-'12 panded over said block. f

1 33. In a machine of the character de scribed, mechanism for bending the edges of l a hat slitted strip laterally to shape it into .a

channel, a Wedge block of a width at one end to enter said channel and having a Width at the opposite end corresponding to the Width of the expanded product, and means for drawing the channel over said block, said block being bent as a Whole so that the path of travel of the Channel when leaving the block is at an angle t0 the path of travel t the point Wheret first engages With the look.l l

34. In a machine of the character described, mechanism for bending theiedges of a sltted stri laterally to give the strip the shape of a channel, and means for progressively expanding the slitted bottom of the channel and 'at the same time swinging the expanded portion of the channel so as to bring its center line et an angle to the longitudinal center line of the uneXpanded part of the channel. s

`In testimony whereof, I. signthis specieation.

- FRED C. AREY. 

